PalmBeachGems is a series of articles on gemstones, gemology, jewelry making, minerals and related topics.

Friday, January 06, 2012

Garnet, A Gem of Endless Variety

The birthstone of January is Garnet. Garnet has been one of the world's favorite gemstones for centuries. And although gem
quality garnets can be among the most beautiful of all gems, they are
relatively affordable. There are some varieties, like tsavorite and spessartite
that can be very expensive, but most are modestly priced. Though most of us think of garnets as a red gemstone they
come in many colors, including orange, green, purple, clear and pink. Some even appear to
change color, depending on the type of lighting! Garnets are not actually a single
species of gemstone but are a family of gems that share certain physical
properties including crystal shape and chemical composition. They are generally
grouped into six garnet species, almandine, pyrope, spessartine, grossular,
andradite and uvarovite. To complicate matters more, garnets are never just one
species, but are a blend of two or more of these.

They are usually named for the species that is most prevalent. A garnet that
is described as "pyrope" may actually be 80% pyrope, 15% almandine and 5%
spessartine. Some specific blends have also been given names of their own. For
example, a garnet that is about 2/3 pyrope and 1/3 almandine is called a
Rhodolite. Other names you may encounter for varieties of garnets include
demantoid (usually green), malaya ( may be pink or reddish orange) , mandarin
(yellow-orange spessartine), hessonite (usually cinnamon brown or yellowish) or
tsavorite(green).Learning, identifying and describing the seemingly endless varieties of
garnets is challenging, but they also provide a wide range of prices and colors
for every taste. And garnets provide a source of great beauty and endless
fascination for gem lovers and mineral collectors as well.

PalmBeachGems.com

About Me

Brett McGill

I have had a lifelong interest in gemstones, rocks, minerals and fossils. I've been collecting rocks and gems since I was a kid. I started making wirewrap jewelry a few years back and selling it at craft shows. In 2002 I started selling gemstones, beads and jewelry online, first through eBay and later with my own site, PalmBeachGems.com